Navi Mumbai, Jan 10 (NationPress) UP Warriorz skipper Meg Lanning highlighted the positives following her team's 10-run loss to Gujarat Giants in the opening match of the Women’s Premier League 2026 at DY Patil Stadium on Saturday. Despite the defeat, she acknowledged that her team fell short in execution but gained important insights from the match.

In her post-match comments, Lanning expressed disappointment at not securing a win to kick off the campaign, but she felt there were numerous takeaways to consider for the upcoming fixtures.

“It was a solid game with many positives for us. Naturally, we would have preferred to start with a win, but we couldn’t quite pull it together for the necessary duration. Still, it was beneficial to get the first game behind us, and there’s a lot we can carry into the next one,” said Lanning.

Facing a challenging target of 207, the Warriorz demonstrated resilience but ultimately fell short. Lanning praised the Gujarat Giants for applying sustained pressure with their batting.

“The Giants batted exceptionally well, putting us under significant stress. We didn’t execute our plans as effectively as we aimed for, both on and off the wicket. It was a difficult wicket to bowl on, favoring the batters,” she elaborated.

The former Australia captain recognized areas requiring improvement for the Warriorz, particularly regarding their bowling performance, but she remains optimistic about the strength and adaptability of her bowling lineup.

“There’s always room for improvement after every match, and we have several games before our next one. The excellent aspect of our bowling unit is that any player can bowl at any time,” Lanning mentioned.

She also commented on playing alongside England spinner Sophie Ecclestone, who achieved two wickets in the match, emphasizing their shared experience and mutual respect.

“She understands her game well, and it was enjoyable to play alongside her this time. We’ve faced each other numerous times,” Lanning remarked.

Despite the defeat, Lanning underscored the significance of quickly moving forward and embracing the forthcoming challenges in the lengthy tournament. “It’s now about taking those lessons and looking forward to the next challenge,” she concluded.

In the match, the Warriorz won the toss and opted to bowl first. The Gujarat Giants set a formidable total of 207/4 in their 20 overs, with Ashleigh Gardner leading the innings with a score of 65 off 41 balls. In response, the Warriorz fought valiantly during the middle overs, with Phoebe Litchfield scoring a quick 78 off 40 balls, but the rest of the batting order could not capitalize, leading to their 10-run defeat.